To run a successful business, you have to know what your customers want. You have a sideshow, performers, animals, and more clowns than you know what to do with. But what do your customers want to see? Should you focus on the animals or shine the spotlight on the performers? Knowing what will sell tickets is key to having the “greatest show on Earth”. Continue reading
Chances are you’ve heard the saying, “the grass is always greener on the other side.” This saying suggests that other circumstances are seemingly more desirable than an individual’s current reality. Which might or might not be true. But what if there is no “other side”? Wouldn’t you want as much of that grass (regardless of color) as possible? In this game, you’ll be leading your sheep to expand and control limited pasture space. There are no wolves in this game. Just a lot of aggressive mutton. Continue reading
The voyage to the New World was fraught with danger and death. When the colonists arrived, they thought the worst was behind them. They were wrong. They are now under attack and they must quickly build forts with strong walls to protect their homes and lives. These are dangerous and desperate times and it’s up to you to lead your colonist. Victory can only be obtained through military or economic might. Choose your path. Continue reading
Can you believe it’s July already? Half of the year has come and gone, and I feel that I haven’t accomplished anything. With only 6 months left in the year, we need to get busy! Socrates said, “Beware the barrenness of a busy life,” but I have a hard time taking advice from a guy who wore a bed sheet. Continue reading
When you think of sports, I wouldn’t be surprised if baseball, basketball, football, and other team games come to mind. We often think of “sports” as being a physical human activity, but this is not always the case. In 1998, a television show titled “Robot Wars” hit the British airwaves and challenged how we look at sports. Now it was machines being powered by human ingenuity that battled in the area. In this game, you get a chance to test your own mental skills, logical thinking, strategic foresight, and tactical guile to become the ultimate robot battling champion. Continue reading
Bat Masterson said, “Never run a bluff with a six-gun.” Life is too precious a thing to use like so many chips in a Poker game. But when the stakes are high, the reward sometimes outweighs the risk. In this game, you will either survive and claim the prize or be just one more Gunslinger dead in the dust. Speed does matter, but you need to be smart, too. Out-think your opponents as well as outdraw them. In the blink of an eye, you could be victorious or dead. Continue reading
My little geeks are out of school and enjoying their new-found summer freedom. Like most adults (other than the smart ones who went into education), I don’t have a summer break. My oldest son takes great delight in reminding me how long he gets to sleep in and not do anything all day if he wants to. Of course, I give him jobs to do. Pick up dog poop, pick up your toys, do yard work, etc. Take that, kiddo! Continue reading
The magical realms are at peace. Travelers and merchants cross the boarders freely and all share in the bounty. When scattered reports and rumors began to circulate of invaders, many couldn’t believe it. After all, the realms have never known war. When the first invading forces torched a small village, the magistrates of each realm called for heroes to fight for and defend their homes. The heroes heard the call and now march to war for the first time in the history of the realms. The future is very uncertain… Continue reading
What every warmongering faction leader nowadays wants is some sort of stronghold. Of course, the demand for such things far outweighs the current supply. This means that you and your fellow warmongers will have to compete to claim your ideal highly secured and heavily fortified piece of real estate. To assist you are all your underlings and a strange supply of special equipment. Lead your troops well and you’ll be the envy of your peers…if any survive, that is. Continue reading
The simple hand game Rock Paper Scissors has long dominated playgrounds, playing fields, and basketball courts. It’s a fast way to quickly determine a winner if a mutually agreed upon approach cannot be determined. For example, who gets the last piece of pie, who gets to kickoff, and who will pick up the bill. It’s also a game that requires its players to think ahead, read their opponent, and predict what they should do next based on what they know or think they know. In this game, the same applies, but the approach is very different. Continue reading
The definition of acuity is “sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing.” The game is aptly titled as you need sharp eyes to spot patterns, a quick mind, and a keen ear. This is not a game that is played seated down, but you will most likely want to sit down and rest after playing it. Continue reading
Aidan Gillen, an actor currently best known for his role as Petyr Baelish in the HBO Game of Thrones series, said “I don’t do a lot of reflecting. I’m usually about getting on with it.” Some of us stop and reflect on our choices and what it means, while others clearly do not. Regardless of your personal approach to life, this game is all about reflecting. Expect hindsight to smack you in the face a few times. Continue reading
